Cyclone Mocha Updates The extremely severe cyclonic storm ‘Mocha’ moving from Bay of Bengal towards Bangladesh coast is raising concerns in India’s coastal areas and ports.
The country’s Meteorological Department has issued a warning regarding the storm. The storm warning has been increased from four to eight. This warning is a sign of great danger for three ports and 12 districts of the country.
The three ports are Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar and Payra where strict warnings have been issued asking them to be careful. Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram, Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Jhalkati, Pirojpur and Barguna districts will also come under Great Danger Signal No.8. Mongla sea port was also asked to display local warning signal number 4 from Friday afternoon.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department said in a special bulletin on Friday night that the maximum sustained wind speed within 74 km of the storm center was about 140 kmph, which increased to 160 kmph. It is likely to intensify further and bring heavy rain on Sunday.
The storm lay centered about 520 km west-northwest of Port Blair, 1010 km south-southwest of Cox’s Bazar (Bangladesh) and 930 km south-southwest of Sittwe (Myanmar). Even though the storm has turned towards Bangladesh, the Disaster Management Department has not withdrawn the warning issued in this regard.
IMD Kolkata red alert for fishermen
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department (IMD) Kolkata has issued a red alert for fishermen in view of the extremely severe cyclonic storm Mocha. The IMD has said that a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm has formed over central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal. Due to its movement towards Bangladesh and Myanmar coast, fishermen are advised not to venture into deep sea over north Bay of Bengal from May 12 to May 14.
